Lyon face Sedan in French Cup semi-finals

MADRID, April 17 (Reuters) - The players of Primera Liga strugglers Levante said on Thursday they would go on strike if the club do not meet a deadline to resolve the payment of debts owed to the squad.

'We have worked honourably and fought hard for a long time
and have reached a unanimous decision that if there is no
solution before the Recreativo Huelva game we will go on strike
that weekend,' defender Luis Rubiales, speaking for the squad,
told a news conference.

'We recognise that this decision has an adverse effect on
many people, but we are the ones who are really suffering. We
know we have the fans' support.'

The Valencia-based club are 15 points from safety at the
foot of the standings with six games to go and scheduled to play
Recreativo, who are only just above the relegation zone, away on
the weekend of April 26-27.

It is not the first time the players have threatened action
over the debts this season. The club planned to raise money by
selling their city-centre stadium but have run in to delays that
have yet to be resolved.

A bank loan that the club said the city council had promised
to guarantee, to help tide them over, has not been forthcoming.

The statement from the players overshadowed the presentation
of new coach Jose Angel Moreno, who has been promoted to take
charge until the end of the season following the departure of
Giovanni De Biasi to Torino on Wednesday.

'We are in a very difficult situation in sporting and
financial terms and this has affected the squad,' Moreno said.

'The best thing we can do is to fight on with dignity as we
have done up to now.'

Moreno's first game is at home to King's Cup finalists
Getafe on Sunday (1500 GMT).